Photoprint washer



July 27,1943. w. A. LENZ v 2,325,255.

PHOTOPRINT WASHER Filed Feb. 12, 19 1" z-sheets-sneet 1 INVENTOR. v -2WILLIAM A. LENZ BY m 2 W ATTORNEY. ,7

y 1943- I w. A. LENZ 2 2 2,325,255

PHO'IOPRINT WASHER Filed 1,941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

14 WILLIAM A. LENZ BY z j ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PHOTQPRINT WASHER William A. Lenz, Lebanon, Mo.Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,549 (01. 9543) 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a certain new and useful improvementin photoprint washers.

My invention has. for its primary objects the provision of a rugged,durable photoprint washer having an hydraulic motive system and abearing of unique structure for increasing the fullness and speed ofwashing action, and to improve generally upon the photoprint washersdisclosed in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 1,313,395,1,526,603, and 1,720,557, granted to me on August 19, 1919, February 17,1925, and July 9, 1929;

respectively.

And with the above and other objects in View,

my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction,arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointedout in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets)-- Figure 1 is a top plan View ofa photoprint washer constructed in accordance with and embodying mypresent invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the photoprint washer takenapproximately along the line 2-2, Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a horizontal'sectional view of the photoprint washer takenapproximately along the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of thearrows, Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary or broken verticalsectionalviews of the photoprint washer taken approximately along thelines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the drain or discharge channel ofthe washer taken ap-- proximately along the line 6-45, Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the quillreinforcing interlockingengagement of the ribs or .braces taken approximately along the line'l'l, Figure 2. Referring now in more detail and by reference charactersto the drawings, which illustrate a prferrecl embodiment of myinvention, the present photoprint washer comprises a rigid, strong tableor support A, which includes four upstanding legs I preferably ofstructural angle iron form and welded or otherwise suitably connected attheir upper end by a three-sided or U-shaped rectilinearframe consistingof ,a pair of spaced parallel angle sections 2 and a, transverse anglesection 3. Bolted or otherwise secured at its opposite ends to, andextending horizontally between the mid-points of, the angle sections 2,is a reinforcing cross-beam 4 formed of a section of downwardly openingU-shaped channel iron.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured at the four corners of the U-shapedframe formed by the members 2, 3, is an annular top wall 5 preferablyprovided along its outer periphery with a suitably upstanding flange 6.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured at an end to, and disposedequi'distantly from the opposite ends of, the angle section 3, is a pairof spaced preferably angle iron cross-beams I, which extend inparallelism with the angle members 2, and which have their verticalflanges suitably cut away for mortised engagement around the crosschannel-member 4, each beaml being secured at its other end to thecircular top wall 5;;

preferably provided at its upper or peripheral margin with an outwardlycurled bead ll. Forming part of the tub B, is a bottom wall l2, whichisof relatively shallow downwardly tapering conical contour, and whichrests in facewise abutment at its downwardly presented apex upon thehorizontal web of the cross channel 4, a securing stud l3,conventionally held in place by a nut I4 and a washer l5, extendingvertically through the tub bottom wall l2 and the horizontal web of thechannel 4. In turn,'form-" ing part of, and extending upwardly from, thestud I3, is 'a suitably elongated dlametrally enlarged bearing post orpintle I6, all as best seen in Figures 2 and 4 and for purposespresently more fully appearing.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured upon the under face of the tubbottom wall I2 and extending radially therealong approximately midwaybetween the members I, is a troughlike drain channel II having aslightly downwardly and outwardly inclined bottom wall l8 preferably ofsemi-cylindrical cross-section and a transverse pereferably flat endwall19, the tub bottom wall l2 being provided with a plurality of suitablepreferably uniformlfy spaced apertures or holes h leading into andcommunicating with the drain ll. Suitably fixed in the end wal1 l9 andopening smoothly into" the interior of the drain II in substantialcoincidence along the semi-circular bottom wall I3, is a radiallyprojecting horizontal nipple 20, and swingably threaded thereon, is aconventional pipe elbow 2| provided at its opposite end with a shortlength of projecting pipe 22, in turn, provided at its outer end with asecond elbow 23, and interposed between the face of the endwall l3 andthe end-face of the elbow 2|, is a compression-spring 24 for holding theelbow 2| and its associated fittings 22, 23, at any desired position. Itshould be noted in this connection that the length of the pipe 22 shouldbe such that the open end of the elbow 23 will be positionedsubstantially above the desired liquid level within the tub B, and itwill also be apparent that, by swinging the pipe 22 and its associatedelbows 2|, 23, downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines inFigure 2 or to any intermediate position, the tub B may be eitherentirely drained or the liquid level thereof adjusted, as the case maybe.

C designates an annular tray or, so-called basket, which includes avertical side wall 25 of somewhat smaller diameter and substantiallyshorter in height than the side wall III of the tub or pan 3 andpreferably, though not necessarily, provided at its upper margin with arolled reinforcing and finishing bead 26. Formed integrally with, orsuitably secured to, and extending horizontally across the lower marginof, the wall 25, is a foraminous bottom wall 21 and suitably fixedcentralhr therein is a tubular member or quill 28 seated for rotarymovement upon the stud-extension l6 and threadedly provided at its upperprojecting end with a retaining cap 29. i

Soldered, welded, or otherwise secured along their respective uppermargins upon the under face of the basket bottom-wall 21, is a pluralityof depending reinforcing ribs'or braces 30, each extending inwardly froma point adjacent the outer circumference of the bottom wall 21 and beingsuitably secured, adjacent its inner end,

in facewise tangential abutment upon the outer face of the quill 23,each of the ribs 30 extending a short distance beyond the quill 28 andbeing endwise abuttingly secured along its transverse margin to thelateral face of the next adjacent rib 30, thus embracingly enclosing thequill 23 in an interlockingly: reinforced manner, as best seen in Figure7. i

The quill 23, as shown, has an over-all length somewhat greater than theover-all length of the pintle l6, and thus the cap 23 may be removedfrom the threaded end of the quill 26, and the quill 28, with itssupported basket C, disposed upon the pintle l6 for concentric rotationwithin the tub B. Initially the downwardly presented margin of the quill28 will come to rest on the upper face of the washer l6, and it will beevident that the upper or'threaded end of the quill 26 will projectabove the upper end of the pintle l6, forming therewith a cup-likerecess 1- which is preferably of reduced height relatively to itsdiameter. 3| of slightly smaller diameter than the recess r is thenplaced within the recess 1. Thereupon the cap 23 is partially filledwith a suitable lubricating grease and replaced upon the threaded end ofthe quill 28. As the cap 23 is threaded into place, the grease will beforced down into the recess r around the ball 3| and between bearingsurfaces of the pintle l6 and quill 28. At the same time, the transversewall ofthe cap A steel ball bearing- 29 will come into engagement withthe ball 3|,

lifting the entire tray structure C in freely rotating supportedposition, as best seen in Figure 4.

Fixed upon the inner face, and projecting upwardly beyond the bead I, ofthe tub wall It, is a pair of diametrally opposed upstanding brackets 32suitably apertured for receiving a horizontal header pipe 33 extendingdiametrally across and over the tub B and conventionally provided at itsone or outer end with a pipe cap 34 and at its opposite or inner endwith a pipe nipple 35, a pair of locking nuts 36 being disposed on thepipe 33 for clamping engagement with the lugs 32. Suitably threaded orotherwise connected to the nipple 35, is a flexible hose 31 adapted, inturn, for connection at its other end to a faucet or other conventionalsource of water pressure (not shown).

Midway between the lugs 32, the pipe 33 is provided with a downwardlyopening T-fitting 38, in turn, provided with a four-way or socalleddouble T-fltting 33 having four horizontally disposed arms or off-takes40 set at right angles to each other. Threaded into and extendinghorizontally from each of the off-takes 40, is a spray-pipe 4| providedat its outer end with a pipe-cap 42. Each of the spray-pipes 4| isarcuately bent in its horizontalplane substantially as shown in Figure land is provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of apertures ororifices 43 opening obliquely downwardly and toward the center ofcurvature of the spray pipes 4|.

Adjacent to the off-takes 40, preferably each of the spray-pipes 4| isprovided with an encircling metal clamp 44 conveniently formed of strapmetal and provided with a bent-over tail-piece or clip 45 which isinserted between the end and upper side of a wooden bar 46 and clampchannel 41, and fastened securely with a sheet metal screw 43 whichextends through the channel 47 and clip 45 into the wooden bar 46. Theinner end of the bar 46, so attached, extends lengthwise at an angle of90 to the axial line of the adjacent take-off 40 and the outer endprojects over the outer end of the next spray-pipe ahead, and isprovided at the outer extremity with a projecting clip member 49 whichis curled over at its end for clipwise engagement with the bead ll ofthe tub side wall It). The inner end of the clip 43 is inserted betweenthe upper side of the bar 46 and the channel 41 and fastened with ascrew 50 in a manner similar to the clip on the other end of said bar46. Adjacent to the outer end'of the bar 46 and channel 41, is anothermetal clamp 5| substantially similar to the clamp 44 fastened to theouter end of the spray-pipe 4|, being attached to said spray-pipe 4|between the last two holes or orifices 43 on the outer end of said pipeand locked into position by a sheet metal screw 52, the upper end ofsaid clamp being placed over the channel 4! and fastened with asheetmetal screw 53 projected through the end of the clamp 5| andchannel 41 into the wooden bar 46.

Folded at its upper margin over and depending from each bar 46 andsecured by the channel 41, is a flap or curtain 54 formed. preferably ofrubberized fabric, oilcloth, or other suitable material to act as asplash curtain and prevent the water from the spray-pipes 4| fromspattering over the outside of the washer. Since the channel 41 i heldin position by means of the screws 48, 50, with which the clamps 44 and6| are severally attached, the channel 41 may be very easily removed forreplacing the splashcurtains with a set of new curtains when it may berequired.

In use and operation, by means of the .hose 31, the tub or tank B isfilled up to a level determined by the vertical position of the elbow23, which latter should be either directly connected to or disposed overa sink or other suitable drain to catch and dispose of the overflowingwater. The photoprints, films, or other articles to be washed are thenplaced within the basket C. The jets of water discharging from theorifices 43 downwardly and inwardly in the form of a non-perpendicularcircular sheet willset the water and the rotatable basket C into motionin the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 5. At the same time, thearcuate and somewhat divergent relation of the several water jetsemerging from the orifices of each spray-pipe 41 will producea uniqueform of turbulence within the whirling body of water, so as to eifect anunusually thorough andcomplete washing action and, at the same time,materially increasing the speed of rotation of the body of water and therotatable basket C which is being carried therewith, the dischargingwater jets forcing the photoprints downwardly within the moving body ofwater and the turbulence or agitation thereof maintaining thephotoprints separate one from the other.

The flaps or curtains will prevent excessive splashing of the waterwhere the discharging jets impinge and will. also deflect the movingbody of water and the photoprints downwardly toward the bottom of thebasket C.

By reason of the unique ball bearing structure and reinforcing ribs 30,the rotating basket C is extremely rigid and strong and hence scratchingor buckling of the very frangible wet photographs is totally obviated.In addition, the ball bearing 3| may be very readily and quickly iubri--cated from time to time by simply removing the cap 29 and repacklng therecess 1- with lubricant. In this same connection, it should be notedthat the entire weight of the basket structure 0 tends to force thelubricating grease downwardly alon the bearing faces of the pintle itwith a positive pressure, thereby effectively preventing any tendency ofthe slightly acid corrosive liquid within the tank from rising upwardlyagainst and attacking the pintle surface.

The washer is exceedingly efficient in the performance of its intendedfunctions, and it should be understood that changes and modifications inthe form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the severalparts of the photoprint washer may be made and substituted for thoseherein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a support having anannular upstanding fiange and a centrally disposed cross-beam, a tubhaving a conical bottom-wall marginally resting on said flange andcentrally at its apex on said beam, means including a stud engaging thesupport-beam and the apex of the tub bottom-wall for securing thesupport and tub together, said stud being elongated in the provision ofan upstanding plntle, a basket having a bottom wall provided with aquill for disposition around the pintle, and a plurality of dependingribs secured marginally to the basket bottomwall and at their respectiveinner ends tangentially to the quill and projecting inwardly beyond the,quill into engagement one with the other.

2. A photoprint washer comprising in combination, a support having anannular upstanding flange and a centrally disposed cross-beam. a tubhaving a conical bottom-wall marginally resting on said flange andcentrally at its apex on said beam, means including a stud engaging thesupport-beam and the apex of the tub bottom-wall for securing thesupport and tub together, said stud being elongated in the provision ofan upstanding pintle, a basket having a bottom wall provided with aquill for disposition around the plntle, a cap removably mounted overthe pintle on the upper end of the quill, and bearing means interposedbetween the cap and the upper end of the pintle for suspending thebasket for rotation within the tub.

3. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a. stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding annular sidewall, a baskethavingpivotal connection with the tub bottomwall for rotation within the tub,the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above the plane of theupper margin of the basket side wall, a header pipe extendingdiametrically across, and having connection adjacent its opposite endswith the upper margin of the side wall of the tub, and a plurality ofspray-pipes dependingly 6 supported from, and having communication with,the header pipe and radially extending over the basket.

4. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding annular side wall, a baskethaving pivotal connection with the tub bottomwall for rotation withinthe tub, the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above theplane of the upper margin of the basket side wall, a header pipeextending diametrically across, and having connection adjacent itsopposite ends with the upper margin of the side wall of, the tub, adownwardly openingfirst fitting fixed centrally upon and havingcommunication with the header pipe, a second fitting hav ing fourhorizontally disposed take-ofis dependingly supported from, and havingcommunication with, the first fitting, and spray-pipes radiallyextending over the basket from, and supported by and havingcommunication with, the take-offs of the second fitting.

5. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding annular 'side wall, a baskethaving pivotal connection with the tub bottom- ;vall for rotation withinthe tub, the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above theplane of the upper margin of the basket side wall, a header pi-peextending diametrically across, and

' having connection adjacent its opposite ends with the upper margin ofthe side wall of, the tub, a downwardly opening first fitting fixedcentrally upon and having communication with the header pipe, a secondfitting having four horizontally disposed take-oils dependinglysupported from, and having communication with, the first fitting, andlengthwise curved spray-pipes radially extending over the basket from,and supported by and having communication with, the take-offs of thesecond fitting, each spray-pipe having a plurality of discharge orificesdirected obliquely downwardly toward the basket in the formation of aplurality of converging jets for rotating the basket and imparting aprint washing turbulence to the body of liquid of the washer.

6. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding annular side wall, a baskethaving pivotal connection with the tub bottomwall for rotation withinthe tub, the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above theplane of the upper margin of the basket side wall, a header pipeextending diametrically across, and fixed adjacent its opposite ends toand upon the upper margin of the side wall of, the tub, a plurality ofspray-pipes dependingly supported from, and having communication with,the header pipe and radially extending over the basket, andsplash-curtains, supported by the spray-pipes for depending into thebasket.

7. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding annular side wall, a baskethaving pivotal connection with the tub bottomwall for rotation withinthe tub, the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above theplane of the upper margin of the basket side wall, a header pipeextending diametrically across, and fixed adjacent its opposite ends toand upon the upper margin of the side wall of, the tub, a plurality ofspray-pipes dependingly supported from, and having communication with,the header pipe and radially extending over the basket, brackets fixed,and each having a member disposed in elevated relation, to thespray-pipes, rigid members supported by the brackets, andsplash-curtains supported by, and depending from, said members into thebasket.

8. A photoprint washer comprising, in combination, a stationary tubhaving a bottom-wall and an upstanding-annular side wall, a baskethavingpivotal connection with the tub bottomwall for rotation within thetub, the tub side wall having an upper margin disposed above the planeof the upper margin of the basket side wall, a header pipe extendingdiametrically across, and fixed adjacent its opposite ends to and uponthe upper margin of the side wall of, the tub, a plurality of lengthwisecurved spray-pipes dependingly supported from, and having communicationwith, the header pipe and' radially extending over the basket, each ofsaid pipes being provided wtih a plurality of spaced discharge orificeseach disposed for forming a. spray jet directed obliquely downwardlyandin the opposite direction to the direction of curvature of the pipe,brackets fixed, and each having a clip disposed in elevated relation, tothe spray-pipes, rigid straight members supported by the bracket clipsand extending in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the chord of thearc of curvature of the respective pipe, and flexible curtains supportedby, and depending into the basket from, said rigid straight members.

\ WM. A. LENZ.

